Climate Report 2023 - Bavaria must continue to step up efforts to protect the climate
Greenhouse gas emissions in Bavaria significantly decreased in 2022 compared to the previous year, according to the 2023 Climate Report. In 2022, a total of 87.9 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents were emitted, which is 3 million tonnes or 3.3% less than in 2021. The report, obtained by the German Press Agency in Munich, shows that emissions in 2021 were just under 92 million tonnes. The report attributes this development to energy price increases and the overall economic impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
By 2040, Bavaria aims to be climate-neutral.
According to Bavaria's new Climate Protection Act, the Free State aims to be climate-neutral by 2040. By 2030, greenhouse gas emissions per capita are to be reduced by 65% compared to 1990 levels. This means that emissions must be reduced to 3.5 tonnes per capita by then. In 2022, emissions were still at 6.6 tonnes per capita. "To achieve the 2030 climate goal, efforts must be intensified in all areas and at all levels," the report states.
The magnitude of these efforts is also evident when considering the total amount of CO2 emissions, which must be reduced from 112 million tonnes in 1990 to 47 million tonnes by 2030, taking into account population growth.
Positive assessment by the Environment Minister
Despite the long road to climate neutrality, Bavarian Environment Minister Thorsten Glauber (Free Voters) has a positive assessment: "The report shows that we are on the right track with climate protection in Bavaria. Climate protection measures are working." The Bavarian government sees the Climate Protection Act's goals, the Climate Million, and the Bavarian Climate Protection Programme as a three-pronged approach. "The Bavarian Climate Protection Programme is the heart of Bavarian climate policy."
In Bavaria, the most significant greenhouse gas in terms of quantity, with an 81.4% share, is carbon dioxide (CO2), which is primarily released in transport and heat and power production. Other important greenhouse gases include methane (11.5%), nitrous oxide (5.3%), and synthetic fluorinated gases (1.8%). Most of the methane released, as well as nitrous oxide, comes from agriculture.
Bavaria's per capita emissions are well below the federal average of 8.9 tonnes, thanks in part to its high population density.
The most emissions-intensive sector in Bavaria is transport, which emitted around 25 million tonnes in 2022 and had the lowest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 1990, at -5.1%. The building sector is the second most emissions-intensive, with a 20.2% reduction in THGs compared to 1990 in 2022.
Industry follows, with a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a value of 17 million tonnes for 2022. Emissions from the agriculture and energy sectors also decreased significantly: in 2022, agriculture emitted approximately 15 million tonnes (-22.9% compared to 1990), and the energy sector emitted 12 million tonnes (-29.8%).
The Climate Protection Programme contains 110 individual measures.
Firstly, the climate report assesses the greenhouse gas reductions achieved by the climate protection program, totaling over 733,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents in 2022. However, data on emission reductions could not be obtained for all measures. The Bavarian climate protection program includes 110 individual measures across five action fields: renewable energy and power supply, natural CO2 storage (forest, peatlands, water), climate construction and architecture, smart and sustainable mobility, and clean tech, climate research, and green IT.
The Commission has commended Bavaria for its significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, citing the Climate Protection Programme as a key contributor. By 2030, the Commission expects Bavaria to further reduce its per capita emissions to align with its climate neutrality goals.
